Washing-machine.



J. BECKER.

WASHING M'AHINE.l 4 APPLICATION HLED JAN. a, 190s.

902,467. Patented 0@t.27,19o8.

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ATroHA/Exs J.' BECKER. WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION II-LBD JAN. 3, 1908.

Patented 0612.27, 1908.`

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JOHN BECKER, OF CANAL DOVER, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application ilerl January 3, 1908. Serial No. 409,144.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BECKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Canal Dover, in the county of ITuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Vashing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to washing machines in which the agitator is manually operable by means of suitable mechanism, to produce a rubbing action.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and efficient washing machine which can be manually operated, which can be adjusted to adapt it for use with varying quantities of objects being washed, and which can be taken apart so that it can be easily shipped or stored when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described having a corrugated agitator arranged in a corrugated tub, and means for `pperating the agitator so that a rubbing action is produced, and in which the construction permits ob- `jects to be operated on above and below the agitator.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure l is a perspective View of the washing machine; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine, showing certain of the parts in different positions in dotted outline; Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section showing a detail and having parts broken away; Fig. 4l is a horizontal section with the tub of the machine removed and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a part of the tub, showing the agitator in plan.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I provide a frame I comprising uprights or standards 2, each having at the base a foot or support 3, which is so constructed that the machine is firmly supported upon the floor or the ground. The feet 3 are additionally secured to the uprights by means of bracing strips 4 at the sides. The uprights are connected by a cross-piece 5,

which has secured to the under side thereof a strip G-formed into braces 7, the ends of which are secured at the feet 3. One of the uprights 2 has a shelf S provided with a wall 9, and sides 10. The shelf, with'its wall and sides, serves for the mounting of a clothes wringer, or a soap holder, and for other like purposes.

The other of the uprights 2, carries a transverse member Il pivotally secured in position by means of a hinge l2. The member 1l extends beyond the upright2, and at the opposite end has a catch 13 by means of which it may be secured at the shelf 8, 'which has a suitable retainer li for the purpose. The catch 13 has a sleeve l5 adapted to be arranged between corresponding sleeves of the retainer I4, and to have inserted therethrough a pin 15a which is similarly inserted in the sleeves of the retainer.

A tub 16 is removably mounted upon the cross piece 5, which has keepers 17 adapted to engage within the lower rim of the tub to hold the same in position. rIhe sides 18 and the bottom 19 of the-tub are provided with sharp-edged corrugations 20 formed integral with the tub, or consisting of separate parts firmly secured to the tub. rIhe latter has a removable cover 2l, the inner face of which is provided with corrugations 22 similar to the corrugations 20. The cover, at the edge, has a notch formed to receive a projection 23 at the side of the tub, which serves to hold the cover in position.

Secured upon the member 11, near the end remote from the shelf 8, is a bracket 24 having bearings 25 in which is ournaled a spindle 26. A gear wheel 27 is rigidly carried by the spindle 26 and has a crank 28 by means of which it can be manually operated. The bracket has further bearings 29 in which is journaled a shaft 30 having a pinion 31 in mesh with the gear wheel 27. The shaft 30 has a fly-wheel 32 thereon, provided with a crank pin 33, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

The cross member Il has an opening 34; therethrough, in which is loosely arranged a shank 35. The cross member at the upper and lower faces has bearing plates 36 provided with openings registering with the opening 34 and arranged to receive the shank 35. An arm 37 is bifurcated at one upon the shank above the member 1].. rlfhe end and has one side 38 rigidly mounted arm has the other side 39 similarly arranged at the under side of the member 11 and rigidly secured upon the shank. The side 38 at the shank is formed into a block 40 provided with a threaded opening to receive a set-screw 41 by means of which the shank can be locked in a plurality of positions with respect to the arm. At the end, the` arm 37 has a pivot bolt .42, upon which is removably arranged a block 43. rlhe latter has a pivot pin 44 at substantially right angles to the pivot bolt. A crank rod 45 is provided at one end with a bifurcation 46, through which the pivot pin 44 extends, and at the other end said crank rod is also bifurcated and carries a block 4S mounted upon the crank pin 33.

The member 11 has set screws 49, which are secu-red to the cover 21, and control the latter. The set screws are adjustable, and by means of them the cover can be raised or lowered. rThe shank 35, at its upper end has a handle 50, by means of which the agitator 51, which is secured to the shank within the tub, can be raised or lowered. At the upper and lower faces, the agitator has sharp-edged corrugations 52 which are inclined in opposite directions, and in opposite directions to the corrugations 20 of the tub bottom, and 22 of the tub cover, respectively.

The washing machine can be used as a double or single washer, that is, objects can be operated upon when arranged between the tub bottom and the under side of the agitator, or when arranged between the upper side of the agitator and the under side of the tub cover. rlhe latter arrangement can be accomplished without ditiiculty when the cover and the agitator are partly raised from the tub and if necessary, the agitator can be lowered by means of the shank to permit the objects to be placed between it and the cover with greater facility. Furthermore, objects can be arranged in both these positions and be simultaneously rubbed or agitated to cleanse them. The tub, of course, is filled with water and soap-suds or other cleansing agents, in the usual manner. By having the gear-wheel and the pinion properly proportioned, the rapidity of operation can be made correspondingly great. As the crank 28 is turned, the shaft 30 drives the [ty-wheel and the crank pin. The latter, through the crank rod 45 reciprocates the arm 37, which in turn actuates the agitator. By raising or lowering the agitator and the cover of the tub, the machine can be adjusted for different quantities of objects undergoing the cleansing process.

The washing machine can be separated into itsI various parts, to render the storing or shipping of the device easy. By swinging the member 1l about its hinge it. can be positiened to permit the removal of the tub. The hinge 12 is provided with a removable hinge pin 53 so that the member 11 can be detached from the frame.

Having thus described my invention, claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettersv Patent:

1. In a washing machine, a tub having a bottom and a cover provided'at the inner faces with transverse sharp edged corrugations, the wall of said tub at the inner side having sharp edged corrugations, an agitator between said bottom and said cover and provided with transverse sharp edged corrugations, and means for actuating said agitator, the corrugations of said cover and said bottom bei-ng inclined in opposite directions said cover being adjustable toward and away from said bottom.

2. 1n a washing machine, a tub having a cover provided at the inner face with transverse sharp edged corrugations, the wall of said tub at the inner side having` sharp edged corrugations, an agitator under said cover and provided at the upper side with transverse sharp edged corrugations, and means for actuating said agitator, the corrugations of said cover and said agitator being inclined in opposite directions said cover being adjustable toward and away from said bottom.

3. ln a washing machine, a tub havinga.

bottom and a cover provided at the inner faces with transverse corrugations, an agitator between said bottom and said cover and provided at the opposite faces with transverse corrugations inclined in opposite directions respectively to the corrugations of said bottom and said cover, and means foractuating said agitator said cover and said agitator being independently adjustable toward and away from said. bottom.

4. In awashing machine, a tub, an agitator within said tub and adjustable with respect thereto, and a removable cover upon said tub and adjustable toward and awa,77 from the bottom of said tub.

5. 1n a washingv machine, a frame having uprights, a tub carried by said frame, a transverse member pivoted upon one of saiduprights and adapted to engage at the other of said uprights, an agitatorv within said tub and carried by saidtransverse member, said member extending beyond its pivotal point upon one of said uprights, means carried upon said extended portion of said member for actuating said agitator, said actuating means substantially balancing said agitator whereby said member can be easilyA swung upon its pivot, a cover upon said tub and carried by said transverse member, and means for independently adjusting said agitator and said cover toward and away from said transverse member.

6. In a washing machine, atub having a removableV cover, an agitator within said tub.y and means for actuating' said agitator, said agitator being. adjustable toward and away from the bottom of Said tub, said cover being adjustable toward and away from the bottom of said tub, independently of said agitator.

7. In a Washing machine, a tub having a bottom provided with irregularities, a removable cover for said tub having the inner face provided with irregularities, said cover being adjustable, an agitator in said tub and having the faces adjacent respectively, to said bottom and said cover, )i'ovided with corre spending irregularities, said agitator being adjustable, and means for actuating said agitator.

In testimony whereoil I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN BECKER. itnesses C. H. Koos, ED. F. ALLEsHoUSE. 

